Otago Limousines owner John Gonsalves is handing over the keys to his nine-metre-long 2005 Ford Falcon BA stretched limousine after two years of running the business. Otago Limousines owner John Gonsalves has hit the brakes on his two-year career as a limo driver, in that time ferrying an estimated 1500 people around the city and its surrounds. Mr Gonsalves, who also owns Big John’s Mobility Express, said he sold his 2005 Ford Falcon BA stretched limousine earlier this month because life was getting just too busy. So busy he only found the time to give the vehicle a wash and hand over the keys yesterday. The life of a limousine driver involved weddings, airport trips, hen nights, stag dos and a lot of children’s birthday parties.

Photo: ODT filesThe look on a supermarket worker's face will stay with a West Coast man forever after a Lotto ticket he checked in store turned out to be worth more than $5 million. In a statement, Lotto said the ticket was the last of three $5.08 million Powerball prizes which were won on the Saturday, February 14 live Lotto draw. "She calmly closed the Lotto counter and took me to the office where she said ‘you’ve just won Lotto,’ and showed me the receipt with the amount on it. Celebrations will come later, but that night, the couple marked the moment with a couple of chocolate biscuits in lieu of champagne. We just keep saying to each other ‘can you believe it?’""Our wishlist isn’t that long," said the man.

PHOTOS: STEPHEN JAQUIERYA "rough around the edges" draft bylaw managing Dunedin’s approach to drinking water has been sent for public consultation. Dunedin city councillors considered a proposed water supply bylaw at yesterday’s meeting, part of the council’s response to Three Waters services legislative and regulatory changes. "I understand that council’s prime aim is to protect the water supply," Cr Lund said. "However the key point of interest to consumers — apart from having a good-quality water supply — are the costs, or the potential extra costs, around the water connections. Council chief executive Sandy Graham said the draft bylaw needed a starting point for public consultation.

Maritime Mutual Insurance Association's registered office in central Auckland. Photo: ReutersBritain has sanctioned Maritime Mutual, the New Zealand-based marine insurer that was the subject of a Reuters special report into how it had helped in the trade of tens of billions of dollars of Iranian and Russian oil. The British sanctions imposed on Maritime Mutual Insurance Association, the company's main business based in Auckland, New Zealand, include an asset freeze and director disqualification. Maritime Mutual Association Limited, an affiliate in Gibraltar, was also sanctioned. The sanctions against Maritime Mutual are part of a package of nearly 300 measures that Britain said was its largest set of penalties since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

PHOTO: FELICITY DEARWielding a machete and a baseball bat, an Alexandra man broke into his ex-partner’s house and attacked her friend. He was wielding a baseball bat in one hand and a machete in the other. Without warning, Gourlay launched at the man and struck him repeatedly with the machete and bat in a minute-long frenzied ambush. Gourlay fled to another address and discarded the machete and bat. The judge noted Gourlay attempted to justify the attack to the probation officer and claimed he did not hit the woman.

Australian police have charged a New Zealand man over alleged violent extremist material. Photo: SuppliedAustralian police say they have charged a New Zealand man found with videos of violent extremist material on his phone. Police said his phone contained videos of a number of terrorist attacks, including violent killings overseas linked to varying ideologies, and videos showing manufacturing of home-made explosives. The man has been charged with possessing or controlling violent extremist material. Australian Federal Police Commander Nick Read said police worked closely with security partners to prevent the spread of violent extremist material, which undermined Australia's social cohesion.

Wiremu Curtis told the Parole Board at that time: “I told yous from the start I was innocent … I didn’t do the murder. Michael Curtis' parole was also declined last year and he is next set to appear before the Parole Board in July. Two others, Oriwa Kemp and Michael Pearson, were convicted and jailed for assaulting Nia. The Curtis brothers, Kemp, and Pearson were supposed to look after Nia and others while Kuka went to work. Appearing in court (from left) are Lisa Kuka, (a police officer guarding the offenders), Michael Curtis, Michael Pearson, Wiremu Curtis and Oriwa Kemp.

New Zealand can end the homeless problem overnight. The question is, are tax-paying New Zealanders prepared to pay for it and are we prepared to place our mentally ill in institutions? Our teenage daughter suffered a serious accident and spent time in Waikato Hospital with a broken pelvis and tibia. At the same time, my wife and I were moving house – dealing with movers, cleaners, power, internet and all the usual disruptions. We clearly benefit from the contribution of those who arrive ready to work and serve.

They claimed this resulted in major infighting between board members, which allegedly got so intense that members were left crying during heated meetings. The Pukekohe North School trip to Fiji had to be taken in a private capacity after the board could not come to an agreement on whether they could go. Limited statutory manager Kevin Bush said he was appointed as a support person to Pukekohe North School’s acting principal in June, before he was ultimately appointed as statutory manager this month. Bush was also appointed this month as a limited statutory manager at the embattled Wesley College. Pukekohe North School board presiding member Ioane Ioane confirmed a student was hospitalised during the trip.

Sarah claimed she waited months at a time and regularly tried to chase up blood test results, ultrasound referrals, and Fertility Associates referrals while under Health Hub Project’s care. With the help of the HDC, Sarah wants Health Hub Project to be “revamped” to make sure other people don’t get lost in the system. In 2019, Sarah, 22, had been struggling to conceive and chose Health Hub Project as a GP because it had a short wait time. The doctor sent the referral to Fertility Associates quickly, where she was also finally given an ultrasound. Health Hub Project declined to comment on the alleged missing medical records.

However, it won't come as All Blacks coach. Robertson has been named as one of four coaches to lead the Barbarians in their clash against the world champions in June. It will be 'Razor's' first assignment since he was sensationally axed as All Blacks coach in January. The side has assembled a quality coaching quartet featuring Robertson, Los Pumas head coach Felipe Contepomi, Racing 92 head coach Patrice Collazo and Argentina assistant coach Kenny Lynn. "It's always exciting to face the BaaBaas, and we are looking forward to hosting them in South Africa.

Photo: Getty ImagesA Taranaki cyclist is on crutches with several "bone deep" puncture wounds after a roaming dog latched onto her leg. The attack sent the New Plymouth woman crashing off her bike while she was out on a country road. A spate of serious dogs attacks has sparked fierce debate] about reforming the 30-year-old dog control law. She was left with "multiple" puncture wounds on her leg. New Plymouth District Council has confirmed one of its Animal Control Officers attended the dog-bite incident on Tikorangi Road in the weekend.

Waitaki District Council is rejoining the Southern Waters partnership it ditched last year. The council has announced it will team up with Central Otago, Clutha and Gore district councils to deliver drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services after its in-house water services plan was rejected by the Department of Internal Affairs. The Mackenzie and Timaru District Councils are also expected to make a decision about joining the partnership on Tuesday afternoon. "It would fail in the foreseeable future in terms of water services compliance and charges to Waitaki's water customers. Waitaki District Council said it was continuing a review of the condition of its water assets ordered by the Department of Internal Affairs.

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Oamaru District Court. Photo: ODT filesTwo men have been charged with aggravated robbery after allegedly stealing a man’s backpack containing thousands of dollars. He was then assaulted and the pair allegedly stole his backpack which contained his cellphone and thousands of dollars of cash. A 24-year-old Oamaru man was arrested in relation to the incident three days later and appeared in the Dunedin District Court the next morning facing a charge of aggravated robbery. His counsel John Westgate said there would be no application for bail and the case was transferred to the Oamaru District Court to be heard in April.